Polar Vortex Industry Recovery Program Guidelines Phase 2

(Download PDF Version of Guidelines)

Program Objective

The objective of Phase 2 of the Polar Vortex Industry Recovery program is to address the needs of industries who were affected by the February 2023 Polar Vortex weather event, including cane fruit, high bush blueberries, grapes, and fruit trees. Phase two activities will include assistance for virus testing, plant material cost, as well as crop maintenance.

Eligible Applicants

Producers that own or operate farms containing eligible crops with a minimum size of ½ acre impacted by the Polar Vortex in February 2023.
Mi’kmaq conducting farming activities in a Mi’kmaw community.

Program Criteria

Applicants must be currently and properly registered in the correct income category under the Farm Registration Act
Applicants must be at least 19 years of age, a resident of Nova Scotia, and was actively farming in February 2023, and is actively farming in 2024
The cropping location is within the region of recorded low temperatures during the Polar Vortex Period (February 4/5^th, 2023)

Eligible Crops

Cane Blackberry

Cane Raspberry

Grapes Vinifera

Grapes Hybrids

High Bush Blueberries

Peaches/Nectarines

Plums

Sweet & Sour Cherries

Financial Assistance / Eligible Expenses

Stream 1: Virus Testing (grapes)

To support and encourage disease free replanting and on-farm propagation, Stream 1 will fund up to 100% of the testing cost for vines to a maximum of $2500 per farm. Testing must be done at a recognized lab.

Tests supported under this stream include: Leafroll-1, Leafroll-3, GPGV and Red Blotch

Eligible expenses include cost of virus testing only.

Stream 2: Maintenance Recovery

Maintenance recovery will be calculated based on the total number of acres of each eligible crop at an assistance level of 70%. The maintenance recovery rate has been calculated using producer data submitted through the Polar Vortex Impact Survey.

Crop	Maintenance Rate	Program support	Maximum funding per acre
Cane Berries (Raspberry & Blackberry)	$800	70%	$560
Grapes	$3900		$2730
High Bush Blueberries	$1400		$980
Peaches	$1400		$980
Plums	$500		$350
Sweet/Sour Cherries	$800		$560

Note 1: Funding for the program is limited and the final decision to support will be determined by Horticulture Nova Scotia

Note 2: If applicant did not apply for Polar Vortex Industry Recovery Phase One then PID’s are required for each field.

Note 3: Maintenance Recovery Phase 2 is based on extraordinary pruning costs to maintain trees/vines/plants because of excessive growth caused by the Polar Vortex Event in February 2023. For Grapes it also includes the extraordinary costs of tying.

Stream 3: Replant Recovery Support

Crop	Program support	Maximum funding
Cane Berries (Raspberry & Blackberry)	50%	$5.62
Grapes Hybrid		$1.11
Grape Vinifera		$2.50
High Bush Blueberries		$3.37
Peaches		$6.00
Plums		$6.00
Sweet/Sour Cherries		$6.00

This stream covers 50% of your invoice to a maximum per plant (as listed in the chart above) for new plant material needed to replace dead or significantly damaged plants in order for the industry to recover from the Polar Vortex event in February 2023.

Note 1: If you have already purchased plant material in 2023 to replant because of your losses from Polar Vortex you are eligible to apply for this replant recovery support.

Note 2: Submit proof of use of planting material from certified sources that is produced from virus-tested rootstock and scion material (is highly recommended) or own propagated virus-tested rootstock.

Ineligible Activities

These include but are not limited to:

administrative / general overhead
small construction tools
operating expenses / existing staff salaries / travel
HST

Application Process

To apply for the Polar Vortex Industry Recovery Phase 2 Program:

Complete and submit the application.
Complete and submit the affidavit.
Include all required support documentation.
1. PID’s listed (Stream 2). Required if you did not apply for Phase 1.
2. Paid invoices for plant material purchases & virus testing (for Stream1 & Stream 3). Attach proof of payment for each invoice – e-transfer confirmation, debit slips, cleared cheques, or credit card/bank statements. (Invoices marked paid and signed by the supplier are not accepted)
Eligible project expenses will be recognized within the Activity Period stated in the table below.

Application Intake	Activity Period
April 4, 2024–May 30, 2024	April 30, 2023 – April 30, 2024

Approval Process

Applications will be accepted, processed, and reviewed upon receipt and on a weekly basis.

Applications will be reviewed by a committee consisting of representatives from Horticulture Nova Scotia, Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture, and Perennia. Applications will be screened according to recorded weather data collected on February 4^th/5^th, 2023 compared to the temperature thresholds for each crop as listed in phase 1 program guidelines.

All approved applications will be sent an approval letter and payments once all of the required documentation is submitted.

Note 1: No payment will be made for claims under $20.00.

Note 2: At least 20% of all projects will be audited to verify program objectives.

Permits and Regulations

The Recipient must ensure that all work in respect of the Project is carried out in accordance with federal and provincial legislation and regulations regarding environmental impact, food safety and animal welfare. It is the Recipient’s responsibility to research legislative and regulatory requirements, obtain required permits and ensure environmental compliance for the Project.

Authority

Horticulture Nova Scotia shall have the authority to deny an application if there is evidence of misrepresentation of pertinent information or if Horticulture Nova Scotia believes that an application does not conform to the spirit of the Program.

Evaluation and Audit

Review and evaluation of projects may be carried out by Horticulture Nova Scotia for the purpose of audit, analysis, evaluation, program development and determining financial assistance. This review and evaluation process may be conducted prior to project commencement, during work or upon project completion. Applicants may be asked to complete an evaluation survey related to their final claim.

Confidentiality

Applicants consent to the release of their name and the amount of support received under the Program. This specific information is deemed to be public information, to be actively disseminated by Horticulture Nova Scotia. Horticulture Nova Scotia may provide any information from an applicant to another public body or a law-enforcement agency in Canada to assist in an investigation, undertaken with a view to a law-enforcement proceeding or from which a law-enforcement proceeding is likely to result. Any other information provided, unless disclosed in the manner and for the purposes stated above, will be subject to the confidentiality and disclosure provisions of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (FOIPOP) Act.

Contact Information

Please submit all documents related to Polar Vortex Recovery Program to Horticulture Nova Scotia at the address, email or fax number below. For more information about the program, please contact Horticulture Nova Scotia.

Horticulture Nova Scotia

32 Main Street, Blair House

Kentville Agricultural Centre

Kentville, NS B4N1J5

patricia@horticulturens.ca

P: 902-678-9335 F: 902-678-1280

C: 902-403-7218

APPLY NOW ONLINE

APPLY NOW – DOWNLOAD, FILL IN, EMAIL or MAIL

This program is now closed.

Phase 1 Polar Vortex Industry Recovery Guidelines (Download PDF Version)

Phase 1

2023-2024

Program Objective

The objective of the Polar Vortex Industry Recovery program is to address the immediate need of the industries who were affected by the February 2023 Polar Vortex weather event, including soft berry fruits, grapes, and fruit trees. Phase one activities will include assistance with virus testing as well as crop maintenance.

Eligible Applicants

Producers that own or operate orchards and/or vineyards containing eligible crops with a minimum size of ½ acre that were impacted by the Polar Vortex in February 2023.
Mi’kmaq conducting farming activities in a Mi’kmaw community.

Program Criteria

Currently and properly registered in the correct income category under the Farm Registration Act
Producers are at least 19 years of age, a resident of Nova Scotia and actively farming in the program year.
Cropping location is within the region of recorded low temperatures during the Polar Vortex Period of February 4/5^th, 2023. (cross referenced with crops cold tolerance temperature listed below)

Eligible Crops

Cane Blackberry (-18^oC)
Cane Raspberry (-22^oC)
Grapes
- vinifera (-23^oC)
- hybrids (-26^oC)
Peaches (-23^oC)
Plums (-23^oC)
Sour Cherries (-26^oC)
Sweet Cherries (-26^oC)

Note: Other crops and specific varieties will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Financial Assistance / Eligible Expenses

Stream 1: Virus Testing (grapes)

Tests supported under this stream include: Leafroll-1, Leafroll-3, GPGV and Red Blotch

Eligible expenses include cost of virus testing only.

Stream 2: Maintenance Recovery

Maintenance recovery will be calculated based on the total number of acres of each eligible crop that sustained damage.

A maximum of $50,000 per farm at an assistance level of 60% will be covered for each eligible crop.

The maintenance recovery rate has been calculated using producer data submitted through the Polar Vortex Impact Survey.

Crop	Maintenance Rate	Program support	Maximum funding per acre
Cane Berries (Raspberry & Blackberry)	$3,166	60%	$1,900
Grapes Hybrid	$3,080		$1,848
Grapes Vinifera	$5,775		$3,465
Peaches	$6,750		$4,050
Plums	$4,987		$2,993
Sweet/Sour Cherries	$6,750		$4,050

Note 1: Funding for the program is limited and the final decision to support will be determined by Horticulture Nova Scotia

Note 2: Applicants must include PID numbers (Property Identification Numbers) and maps or GPS coordinates showing the area of the various crops that can be used for verification. Written directions are required where directions to an orchard/field are more challenging.

Ineligible Activities

These include but are not limited to:

administrative / general overhead
small construction tools
operating expenses / existing staff salaries / travel
HST

Application Process

To apply for the Polar Vortex Industry Recovery Phase 1 Program:

Complete and submit the application.
Complete and submit the affidavit (included in the application).
Include all required support documentation.
1. paid invoices for virus testing (Stream 1). Attach proof of payment for each invoice – e-transfer confirmation, debit slips, cleared cheques, or credit card/bank statements. (Invoices marked paid and signed by the supplier are not accepted)
2. PID’s listed and maps of eligible crop locations for verification purposes (Stream 2)
Eligible project expenses will be recognized within the Activity Period stated in the table below.

Application Intake	Activity Period
October 6, 2023 – November 30, 2023	February 4, 2023 – November 30, 2023

(ONLINE) Fill in the Polar Vortex Industry Recovery Application Form Phase 1 Online Now

After you complete your form, you will need to verify your email. Once verify your email (in your email), your application will arrive in our inbox. Patricia will send you an email that she has received your application.

(EMAIL or MAIL-IN) Fillable & Printable Application Form: Polar Vortex Industry Recovery Program Application Phase 1

Approval Process

Applications will be reviewed by a committee consisting of representatives from Horticulture Nova Scotia and Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture. Applicants will be screened according to recorded weather data collected on February 4^th/5^th. Eligible producers who were in areas that sustained temperatures listed on page 2 will be considered under this program, all other crops will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

All approved applications will be sent an approval letter and payments will follow.

Note 1: No payment will be made for claims under $20.00.

Note 2: At least 20% of all projects will be audited to verify program objectives.

Permits and Regulations

Authority

Evaluation and Audit

Confidentiality

Contact Information

Horticulture Nova Scotia

32 Main Street, Blair House

Kentville Agricultural Centre

Kentville, NS

B4N1J5

programs@horticulturens.ca

P: 902-678-9335

C: 902-403-7218

F: 902-678-1280